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Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Posted by on 13 October 2009 | 1 Comments

Dark chocolate is good for your heart. These benefits are a result of flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body. Studies have shown that it can lower LDL cholesterol (the bad one) by up to 10%. Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart: it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure; it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant; and it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants. Some of the fats in chocolate do not impact your cholesterol. Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil. Stearic Acid is a saturated fat but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol. Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk. That means only one third of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you. This information doesn't mean that you should eat a pound of chocolate a day. Chocolate is still a high-calorie, high-fat food. One bar of dark chocolate has around 400 calories. If you eat half a bar of chocolate a day, you must balance those 200 calories by eating less of something else. To really enjoy and appreciate chocolate, take the time to taste it and eat it slowly. Look for pure dark chocolate amd avoid anything with fillings that contain sugars or fats. Sources: Chocolate Manufacturers Association; Journal of the American Medical Association